In a first for the world of art, 'The Descent' by Caravaggio is visiting Spain. The Vatican Museums have loaned the painting to the Prado Museum in Madrid for World Youth Day. It will take part in the exhibition 'The Word made image' which consists of 14 masterpieces on the life of Christ.

This group of student musicians call themselves the “tunos”. They follow an old Spanish musical tradition linked to universities that has been known for centuries as “the tunas”. And 100 of them will welcome the Pope during World Youth Day in Madrid!

The Swiss Guard is the Pope's defense corps. One hundred and ten of them guard his residence and stand tall during the Vatican's main ceremonies. This will be a bit different for World Youth Day. When Benedict XVI visits Spain in August, security will increase and the Pope will have a very special defense team. The group is called the Young Swiss Guard. About 60 children, dressed in the unique and traditional uniform are hoping they'll make the Pope feels welcome.

Xt3.com is the hub for everything World Youth Day 2011 - featuring live webcasts and video blogs from Madrid this August!

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The prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, is encouraging young people to see Benedict XVI as the 'Pope of hope': “Young people from all over the world, and especially from Spain, need a great message of hope, which is what they will find in their encounters with Pope Benedict.”

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It's no long before World Youth Day kicks off in the capital of Spain where preparations are underway to welcome the pope and more than one million young people from around the world for World Youth Day 2011. Watch this video to preview some of the features and the official sites that you will see in Madrid.

This is the home of the Machuca-Bárcena family. They live in Tres Cantos area just north of Madrid. Along with hundreds of other families, they've decided to welcome young people into their home, where they'll stay for World Youth Day.

Please read this important statement from the WYD Office: "It has come to our attention that Michael Voris, a US based media producer, is scheduled to offer independent catechesis sessions out of a hotel in Madrid during World Youth Day 2011. There has been some confusion regarding his affiliation with World Youth Day. Michael Voris, the clergy and the laity associated with him, and their media efforts “Real Catholic TV” and “No Bull in Madrid” are not in any way recognized or approved by World Youth Day 2011."

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The pilgrimage walk to location of the WYD Final Mass is a great World Youth Day tradition. For WYD2011 in Madrid, the final Mass will take place at the Cuatro Vientos Air Field. If you will be taking part, then take a look at this video, which gives you some of the basics about the walking route that pilgrims will follow to get from downtown Madrid to Cuatro Vientos for the prayer vigil and closing Mass with Pope Benedict XVI!

In light of the Pope's upcoming to trip to Spain for World Youth Day this August, the Vatican has released new figures on the number of Catholics living there. Spain has a population close to 46 million people and the Vatican estimates that 42 and a half million, or 92.2%, is Catholic.